Open to all UW students, regardless of faculty or department.

NO TECHNICAL BACKGROUND REQUIRED!

In this rapid version of a hackathon, participants will be teamed up at the event and work together to ideate, research and brainstorm solutions to problems in the domains of housing development, using AI for smarter urban transportation, building sustainable infrastructure and advancing sustainable mobility all in 3-hours.

The objective of the speed hack is for students to:

• Learn and/or practice skills in ideation and innovation
• Apply these skills to start creating solutions to issues facing our cities

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Problem Spaces

Accelerating housing development

Municipalities face mounting pressure to address the urgent need for expedited housing solutions amid growing affordability challenges and increasing demand. Traditional approval processes often fail to meet the speed and efficiency required to deliver housing within shortened development timelines. How can municipalities transform their approval systems to streamline processes, accelerate timelines, and enable the rapid creation of diverse, affordable housing while maintaining community engagement and high-quality urban design?

Harnessing AI for smarter urban transformation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative capabilities for municipal operations, enabling more efficient, data-driven decision-making across critical domains such as infrastructure, mobility, and housing. The challenge lies in identifying scalable, equitable, and practical pathways for cities to effectively integrate AI technologies. How can municipalities leverage AI to enhance decision-making, optimize processes, and deliver improved, resident-centered outcomes?

Building sustainable infrastructure

Cities need innovative infrastructure solutions that integrate nature-based approaches to address environmental challenges and create more sustainable urban environments. How can municipalities incorporate nature-based solutions into city planning and development?

Advancing sustainable mobility

Economic and environmental concerns demand more sustainable and affordable mobility options for cities. How can we create innovative transportation solutions that are both sustainable and economical, addressing the diverse needs of urban populations?

Win one of three $200 prizes!

Agenda

• 5:00-5:05 – Check in, dinner is served
• 5:05-5:10 – Introduction of Speed Hack flow and introduction of problem spaces
• 5:10-5:15 – Form your Speed Hack team
• 5:15-5:30 – Find a specific problem your team will work on
• 5:30-6:00 – Conduct research to better understand your problem
• 6:00-7:00 – Brainstorm ideas and build out your proposed solution
• 7:00-7:20 – Create your pitch
• 7:20-7:50 – Share your idea (2 minutes per team)
• 7:50-8:00 – Winners announced!